The nimble constructs duck and dodge. Their touch metallic hide proves too resilient for Arthur to pierce, but a blast of divine energy from Ember slices through one like a hot knife through butter.
They surge forwards, metal fangs gleaming, but Arthur swings a shield, knocking them away.
nit +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +0 DEFENSE
AC 22, touch 13, flat-footed 18 (+4 Dex, +7 natural, +1 size)
hp 15/15, 7/15
Fort +0, Ref +4, Will +0
DR 5/—; Immune construct traits; SR 13
OFFENSE
Speed 70 ft.
Melee bite +3 (1d6+1 plus poison)
A dark and malicious smile creeped in her mouth, as Ember watched the little snake burn.
The fire burned hotter around her now, as it continues to burn in her hands, shooting off in a scorching bolt of divine fire, targeting again, the already injured snake.
she yells now, at top of her lungs, clearly forgetting about anyone else in the place.
Invigorated by the Ember's success Arthur takes a quick step forward and brings his blade down with all the force he can muster. His efforts are rewarded by a sharp sound of metal against metal as he manages to strike the back of one of the snakes and pierce its magnificent armour.
Between Embar's magical prowess and Arthur's brute force, the magical contraptions stand little chance and are quickly destroyed.
Timeon stares in wonder, "Your skill in battle is something to behold."
Exiting the room, you find another short corridor with yet another door. Above this is inscribed "“Suffer not the fool. Stupidity is our faith’s cardinal sin.”
Beyond is a square chamber with a podium in its center. The chamber is lit only by a hanging oil lantern.
Upon the podium lies a pendant of silver, a dragon with sapphire eyes.
A stairway leading up is in the eastern wall.
Excited and giggling as a little girl, Ember turns to Iacobus, and smiling says ”I did it, darling!”
Stifling a groan, Iacobus retorts in the same tone, "You always did burn with such passion, honey. Well done."
He actually feels sincere about the last bit
Arriving at the next room he takes a look around... ... before he turns to Ember and asks, in what he assumes is a love-stricken voice, "Honey, do you see anything wrong with this room?"
Ember blushes when she realizes that for the first time, he is not being sarcastic.
Then, at his requests, she chants a small prayer, and searches if there’s anything to be found in the room.
Lucetta turns to Timeon, laying a hand gracefully, chastely, on his forearm
It gladdens my heart to be in the presence, and under the protection, of such warrior's of our god. Truly I feel as if nothing could stand in the way of our righteous might!
Upon seeing another of the inscriptions complete with staged room, Lucetta thinks quickly to distract the young squire
We have seen some others like this, all with some twisted words that champion un-Mitran ways of thinking. Much as I hate to even consider it, but if we are to escape from here, we must try to understand what is meant by those words. Stay here and keep watch in case anything has followed us.
she leaves Timeon guarding the door and moves forward to assess the room fully. Whispering to the others she adds
This is too easy, right in plain sight. With the warning about being stupid I cannot see that this is our goal. I suggest searching for more secret doors...
Arthur breaths heavily trying to regain his breath after the taxing combat. Curious he pokes at the mithral husks before him, once sure they are dead, he carefully picks one up. "What is this metal?" he asks out loud.
Having followed the others into the room, he heads Lucetta's warning. "I think you are right," he adds and begin searching. At the ood chance there is something by the stairs he looks there first.
Ember's survey of the room turns up another secret door. Beyond it is an L shaped hallway that ends with another door with the inscription “Secrecy is our greatest ally. Exposure brings death.”
Turning to inform the rest of his findings Arthur sees them gathered by a secret door. Keeping his mouth shut he walks over to the find. "You were right," he remarks to Lucetta and asks everyone: "but where do you think this will take us?"
Lucetta answers Arthur simply
To our next challenge my friend she smiles
Then to Iacobus
It seems strange to put this treasure in plain sight, it surely must be a trap, we can return to it later if need be, we still have time on our side after all...
moving back to Arthur's side and ushering him down the secret corridor ahead of her, she grins and lays a hand on his weapon arm
Prepare yourself!
she follows Arthur through the door at the end of the L-shaped hallway.
In answer to Arthur, Iacobus just shakes his head over the obvious answer. Even after months with the man, his simplicity could still surprise one.
Iacobus nods at Lucetta's suggestion, it was a good idea. He does take a closer look before leaving to make sure it wasn't worth much or trapped.
----------
He moves to the front of the group when he reads the sign and motions for them to stop, he then takes a moment to remove his armor and then moves into the shadows and creeps up to the door as quietly as he can. He listens at the door for a few seconds and then, if he hears nothing, cautiously tries opening it.
Emboldened by the Lucetta's action and words Arthur prepares to head into the unknown beyond the exposed door. He stops when Iacobus moves in front of him and while he is slightly surprised that Iacobus removes his armour, he realises why when the man quietly slips into the shadows. "I'll wait to see what happens," he whispers to the rest while adopting a defensive posture ready for what enemies a returning Iacobus might bring in his wake.
Iacobus hears nothing beyond the door and opening it, he see nothing beyond, but the inky blackness of an unlit room.
Pausing for a momentn Iacobus anticipates something lashing out at him. When nothing comes he sighs quietly and slithers back to the rest of the group.
"Honey, Lucetta, would one of you mind joining me in making sure nothing deadly is living in the room ahead? I *cough* sadly can't see anything..."
”I’ll go. I can see in complete darkness, and I can move without making noise, such as the warning advised.” says the aasimar when Iacoubus describes the room.
After that, she bid him farewell, with another kiss on the cheek, and move forward, to explore the room making little noise as possible.
The short man gives another of his nearly silent sighs as the aasimar kisses him, again.
"Good luck, honey. We'll be here if you need."
With that, he starts pulling his chain shirt back on.
After waiting a few seconds, he starts a conversation with Timeon, their 'guest,' "So Timeon, you were from where again, and what was growing up there like?" He continues, much in this vein, to try pumping information from the man.
When Iacobus has seen Ember of and she ventures into the darkness Artur asks him: "Do you have idea of what lies ahead?"
"A door and a pitch-black room. Hoewever, if I had to speculate and knowing the cruelty of thought the designer of this place used, I'd say there is likely a light sensitive trap or monster in the room... or worse."
Understood Iacobus, never fear, we are here to help each other!
Lucetta grins.
She glides forward and peers through the door as Ember moves through, getting her own darkvision-enabled glimpse of the contents.
The room is mostly empty. A closed door rests in one of the other walls. In the center of the room, the stone floor gives way to dirt in which a man sized mushroom resides.
Lucetta leans back and whispers to the rest of the group
It's some sort of mushroom in the middle of the chamber, I've no idea what it is though, never seen anything like it. Iacobus, have you ever read about...
Lucetta proceeds to describe the mushroom in detail to Iacobus, hoping he'll be able to provide some insight.
"I've never dealt with things below ground much... but if it isn't reacting to your approach to the door we might be able move around it... It is probably light sensitive given how it's the only unlit room so far. But I don't like the idea of getting too close to another unknown fungus, expecially in the dark... Let's put Ember up front and Arthur right behind her in case something attcks them. Timeon next and the me and you making sure nothing moves in behind us. Let's try keeping to the outside of the room and hold onto the person in front of you. Honey, if you could provide a light if we get ambushed and keep an eye out for traps, we'd be ever so grateful. Any concerns or questions?" Iacobus explains when Ember also joins the group. As Arthur inevitably raises his hand he continues "And, yes, Arthur, we do want to move as quietly as possible."
Shrugging his shoulders Arthur moves towards the darkness and finds Ember. He places a hand on her left shoulder. "I am ready, lead me on" he says.
Well I suggest we all move around the very outside of the room to the door on the opposite side, Ember can lead and I will go last as we can both see. Now, everyone remain quiet!
Iacobus just smiles wryly over Lucetta's echoing of his advice and herds Timeon up behind Arthur.
"Well, let's get going then."
Ember walks over to the big one, giving him an appraising look, then, taking his hands walking him to the door, and before venturing into the darkness, she takes his hands to her waist, as she motion the others to do the same, meaning Timeon grab Arthur, and so on, since no one can actually see in the dark. Before stepping inside the room, she turns to the big warrior and coyly whispers "Be careful where you move those big hands..."
You carefully ease your way through the dark until you reach the next door. Ember and Lucetta see etched above this one, "“Beware the fallen for they may rise once more to threaten you.”
Hoping that it's not trapped with terrible dangers, you ease it open and blink in the bright lamplight of the next room. It has eight battered wooden coffins that are encrusted with salt brine, barnacles and dried seaweed. Another door leads beyond.
Upon reading the script and seeing the coffins, Lucetta immediately walks to Arthur and lays a finger on his lips, waving at everyone else quickly and gesturing with her other hand over her own mouth.
She points to Iacobus and then the far door, cupping her ear and pointing at her eyes, then shrugging.
Just smiling at Ember's remark and goves her waist a slight squeeze before following her. As he is blinded by the darkness Arthur does his best to listen for any signs of danger. He gains the impression that they pass through a doorway and he takes in the smell of old sea, just before he voices a question he feel a finger laid upon to his lips. Recognising the need to remain silent he holds his tongue. While still unable to see his adopts a defensive stance ready for a fight.
Keeping a tight grip on Timeon and Lucetta, Iacobus tries to keep his breathing under control. Being powerless was something he never handled well and, though he trusted his compatriots, the situation was still less than ideal. Having missed the sign he is initially puzzled by the drowned coffins until he sees Lucetta's expression and reaction. Believing the coffins might start moving at any second, Iacobus keeps his armor on and tries as quietly as possible to reach the other door. He keeps his rapier in hand, just in case.
He slips, slightly, on the various dead undersea plants and animals, making a noise.
As you carefully try to make your way through the room, a low moan rises from one of the caskets, followed by dull thud as something strikes the inside of the casket.
The sound causes Arthur to shiver and he lets go of Ember and turns in the general direction the moan.
... blink in the bright lamplight of the next room...
The thump comes again, harder this time and then another moan rises from a coffin on the other sider of the room.
Breaking the enforced silence Arthur asks: "What do you think it is?"
"What are you waiting for? Moaning inside a coffin! What else can it be?" starts Ember, preparing for a fight that may not come.
As he reaches the door, Iacobus hears his friends' conversations. After a moment of slowly and quietly pounding his head against the door, he turns motioning for them to shut up and move towards the door.
They could possibly still get out of here if they were careful. As the two come over he looks around for a good club like object. A rapier would do nothing against the living dead or so he'd heard...
Resolutely Arthur steps to the nearest coffin from which moaning can be heard and tries to push the lid of with his food, blade and shield are raised in preparation for what might be revealed.
Iacobus gives a silent sigh of exasperation as his friend does what is probably the worst thing possible, and opens one of the coffins. Slumped over he gives the fighter a dagger sharp stare and moves in closer to see if he can help.
The coffins are water-logged and swollen and do not open easily, but fortunately for you, four of the lids burst open and bloated, stinking corpses rise from them, dragging rusty and pitted greataxes behind them.
Combat Rn 1
18 Authur
15 Ember
10 Iacobus
9 Baddies
4 Lucetta
AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 14 (+2 armor, +2 natural)
hp 19/19 x4
Fort +2, Ref +1, Will +3
DR 5/bludgeoning or slashing; Immune undead traits; Resist fire 10
"These rooting carcass will not stand in our way!" Ember yells claiming for her god’s blessing.
Stepping between Ember and the nearest corpse, fear is painted in his face as the horror comes closer. Raising his shield he swings his sword hard against this unknown enemy. The metal bites deeply into the rotten flesh, alas it seems to have little effect.
Iacobus groans as not one but four of the creatures break open their caskets. He takes a look at them before dropping his piecie of wood and drawing his rapier and hoping Arthur would be able to hit them well enough...
Round 2
Come on people, we have to kill these things, i doubt they will leave us alone if we try to escape. Undead are annoyingly tenacious... Iacobus roars as he tries to help guide Arthur's weapon again.
Arthur cuts into one of the foul undead, but it fails to go down.
AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 14 (+2 armor, +2 natural)
hp 12/19, 19/19 x3
Fort +2, Ref +1, Will +3
DR 5/bludgeoning or slashing; Immune undead traits; Resist fire 10
Lucetta summons a fistful of acid, flinging it in to the nearest Draugr's face.
Daring not to get near of one of the creatures, Emmber conjures another of the fire bolts to attack it.
pH unbalanced
Sariana Nightsong
